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Warner won't run for Va. governor

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner said Tuesday he’s staying in the Senate and won’t run next year for Virginia governor, a job he held from 2002 to 2006.

After giving it “heartfelt consideration,” Warner said he wants to remain in the Senate to continue working to cut the federal debt and deficit. Elected to the Senate in 2008, Warner has been a member of the bipartisan “Gang of Six” senators working on a $4 trillion deficit-reduction deal.

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Playbook Breakfast: Jim Messina

GOP Gov. Bob McDonnell, a possible presidential candidate in 2016, cannot run for a second consecutive term under Virginia law. With Warner out, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for governor in Virginia is Terry McAuliffe, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli are likely to battle it out for the GOP nomination.

“I loved being governor, but I have a different job now — and it’s here, in the United States Senate,” Warner said in a statement. “I hope my value add in Congress is to continue working hard every day to not simply blame the other side, but to actually try to find common ground so we can get stuff done.

“At times, it’s been frustrating,” he added. “But I believe this work is important for Virginia, and for our country, and I intend to see it through.”

Warner could face a tough reelection in 2014. This month, former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, bested another former governor, Republican George Allen, for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Jim Webb.

Warner could face a tough reelection in 2014. This month, former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, bested another former governor, Republican George Allen, for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Jim Webb.

Yeah, from who? They don't come much better than Mark Warner. He got all A's as governor. I lived in VA then. He was fantastic...really cleaned up Gimore's mess that he left. All the GOP respected him. Now, there's crappy Republicans in. I bet he wanted to axe Cantor out. I'd go for that, but we do need him now in the Senate. I don't even want to lose Kerry for Defense. Mr. President....no. I hope Mark runs for President someday, because he would make an excellent President. Plus, he's also a very successful businessman with lots of money and experience. He could have won this election...he was what we needed the most. Obama is good, but Mark would have been better. He would have beat Romney in a landslide. The present GOP's are on a different planet. All I can do is pray for them. Oh, well.

Not that I know everything that's going on, but this story seems odd. How many people were pining for a return from former Governor Warner?

Mark Warner is a smart man and moderate Democrat, who, I am sure, is an asset to the Senate.

I saw him give a speech when he was thinking about running for the president in 2007 - he struck me as a good national candidate. This kind of talk two-years out from the election, let alone four-years out is disgusting. Two-year campaigns are ridiculous. The media wants to cover horse races and rake in all the money that billion dollar campaigns spread. Stop encouraging this slop, will you? Isn't there some REAL news to report?

Why be a governor when you can be a Senator and kick problems down the road, go on junkets and form a committee to make decisions. You can exempt yourself from the bad things you vote for like Obamacare. Free cars, slush funds and you can sell favors like they were going out of style. Senators and losers tend to go hand in hand! You're exempt from corruption charges and can lie at will.

So now Bob McDonnell is thinking about 2016 too? Add him to the list with Ryan, Rubio, Walker, Paul, and Christie. Don't count out the media whores Palin, Trump, and Rudy, either. By the time we hit 2015 it might be easier to just list which Republicans aren't considering a run.

Jack Reacher - "You can exempt yourself from the bad things you vote for like Obamacare."

This is one of the most tiresome lies about "ObamaCare." The ACA specifically requires that members of Congress choose insurance policies that are offered on the DC exchange. Whereas employees of random corporation are only required to have sufficient insurance. So the law is actually more restrictive in forcing members of Congress to have the same kind of insurance anyone else could get under ObamaCare.

Warner to run for governor of Virginia? Big shot entrepreneur? Will the syncophant press ask how he made his money? "Behind every great fortune there is a crime. True of the Kennedys and not far off for Terry McAuliffe and Mark Warner, both Democratic activists who made their fortune on insider advantages. McAuliffe in the dot-com bubble and Warner in the cell phone lottery.exploiting a multibillion-dollar government giveaway.. Just so you know, the way Warner made his money has since been outlawed. http://usliberals.about.com/od... Decade of greed? Warner was right there in front.